Ink dispensing device



July 4, 1933.

G. R. BESS INK DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Jan. 18, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet July 4, 1933. e. R. BESS INK DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Jan. 18, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 afw p 7 BW f Rn N. W NR Q\ G mm I I I I I I Patented July 4, 1933 isiazee r; ester.

GUY RAYMOND BESS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS INK DISPENSING DEVICE Application filed January 18, 1932. Serial No. 587,352.

My invention'relates to improvements in ink dispensing devices, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide an ink dispensing device which will meter out a definite amount of ink at each operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide an ink dispensing device having an airtight reservoir for containing the ink.

A further object is toprovide an ink dispensing device in which novel and adjustable means is provided for determining the depth of the ink in the reservoir.

A further object is to provide an ink dispensing machine in which the construction is such that none of the metal parts will come in Contact with the ink.

A further object is to provide an ink dispensing machine having novel means for preventing foreign matter, such as dirt, from being deposited in the ink reservoir.

A further object is to provide an ink dispensing machine which may be operated with or without the coin control, as desired.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device as mounted on a wall,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the device, the housing encasing the device being shown in section,

Figure is a side elevation of the device,

. the housing being shown in section,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view r taken substantially along the line 55 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a View similar to Figure 6 having a portion in elevation and showing certaii elements in their operating positions, an

Figure 8 is a. vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 of Figure 4.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a supporting block 1 which may be connected with a wall 2 by any suitable means, not shown, such as toggle bolts. A base plate 3 is mounted on the supporting block 1 and may be fixedly connected with the supporting block 1 by any desirable means, such as screws 4.

The base plate may be provided with a pcripheral flange portion 5 for extending over the peripheral sides 6 of the supporting block 1. Abracket member 7 is fixedly connected with the base plate 3 by any suitable means, such as bolts 8. A casing 9 is mounted on the bracket member 7 and comprises a base portion 9a and a cover portion 9?). The casing 9 may be constructed of any suitable material, such as hard rubber.

A gasket '10 may be disposed between the base portion 9a and the cover portion 96 for providing an air-tight joint. The base portion 9a and the cover portion 9?) are firmly held together by any suitable means, such as bolts 11 which extend through the cover portion and the base portion, and may also be adapted for connecting the casing 9 with the bracket by extending through threaded openings not shown in the bracket. Additional means, such as a screw 12, may also be provided for further connecting the cover portion 9?) with the base portion 9a.

The base portion 9a of the casing 9 is provided with a reservoir chamber 13 and a well chamber 14 which are in communication with each other. The floor portion of the reservoir chamber is elevated with respect to the floor portion 9d of the well chamber, as

clearly shown in Figures 8, 6, and 8. The base portion 9a is provided with a wall portion 15 for providing a compartment 16. The wall portion 15 separates the compartment 16 from the reservoir chamber 1 3 and the well chamber 14. The base portion 9a is provided with integral bearing portions 17 having arcuate-shaped recesses 18 therein.

A bucket member 19 is disposed within the well 14 and is provided with cylindrical projecting portions integral therewith and positioned 011 opposite sides thereof, the projecting portions being receivable in the recesses 18 for pivotally supporting the bucket member. The bucket member may be constructed of any suitable material, such as hard rubber. The bucket member 19 is provided with an opening or well 21 therein, and is normally disposed in the position shown in Figures 5 and 6.

It will be noted on referring to Figures 2, 3, and 6 that the front portion 9a of the cover portion 95 is disposed in an inclined position and is providec with a pair of spaced-apart openings 22 and 23 therethrough. The opening 22 is in alignment with the bucket member 19. The bucket member 19 is further provided with a projecting portion 24 integral therewith. The projecting portion 24 is adapted for covering the opening 22 when the bucket member is disposed in its normal position shown in Figure 6, and is provided with an arcuate-shaped surface 24a adapted for engaging the arcuate-shaped surface 9/ of the cover portion 9?) when the bucket member 19 is disposed in its normal position.

As shown in Figure 5, a receptacle 25 is mounted on the bracket member 7 and is positioned beneath the opening 23 in the cover portion 9?). The receptacle 25 may be provided with a projecting portion 25 having an opening therethrough for receiving one of the bolts 11 for being connected with the bracket member 7. A shaft 26 is rotatably mounted in the base portion 9a of the casing 9 and extends to the exterior of the base portion. The shaft 26 is positioned within the compartment 16. A lever arm 27 has one end mounted on the shaft 26 and is fixedly and adjustably connected with the shaft 26 by any suitable means, such as a set screw 28. A connecting arm 29 is provided for operatively connecting the lever arm 27 with the bucket member 19, and has one end pivotally connected with the lever arm 27 by means of a pin or screw 30, and the other end pivotally connected wi h the projecting portion 24 of the bucket member 19 by any suitable means, such as a screw 31.

An actuating arm 32 is mounted on the shaft as on the exterior of the casing 9 and may be fixedly and aujustably connected with the shaft 26 by means of a set screw The actuating arm 32 has a cut out portion for providing a shoulder portion 34. The actuating arm 32 is further provided with a medial slotted recess 35 therein for receiving a coin. The actuating arm is provided with an arcuate-shaped projecting portion 36 which has, together with the actuating arm proper, an arcuate-shaped surface 37. A locking arm 38 has one end pivotally connected with the cover portion 95 of the casing 9 by any suitable means, such as a scr w 39. A pin 40 is connected with the cover portion 95, and is adapted for supporting the locking arm 38 in its normal position shown in Figure 3.

A shaft 41 is rotatably carried by spacedapart flange portions 70- which constitute a part of the bracket member 7 with which they are integral. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a i arm 42 and an auxiliary z :tuating arm 43 are mounted on the shaft 41 and are fixedly and zuljustably connected therewith by any suitable means, such as set screws 4.4. The arms 42 and 43 are provided withopenings therethrough for receiving a bar member The bar member 45 extends through the actuating arm 43 and is provided with an opening in the extending end thereof for being connected with an end of a spring member 46. The other end of the spring member 46 is connected with a stationary element, such as a screw 47 connected with the easing 9.

A connecting arm 48 is provided for operatively connecting the auxiliary actuating arm 43 with the actuating arm 32, and has its end portions pivotally connected with the actuating arms by any suitable means, such as pins or screws 49. A U-shaped actuating lever 50 is provided comprising a top portion 51 and side portions 52. The end portions 53 of the side. portions are provided with aligned openings theretl rough for being mounted on the bar 45. The cover portion 95 of the casing is provided with slotted openings 54 therein for receiving the side portions 52 of the U-shaped actuating lever. The side portions 52 are held within the slotted openings by the stop member or screw member 41 with which the spring is connected.

The cover portion 97) of the "asing 9 is provided with an extending portion 90 having a slotted opening 55 therethrough alignment with the slotted op-ei'iing 35 in the actuating arm 32, whereby a coin may be inserted in the opening and deposited in the slot 35. The base of the slot 35 of the actuating arm 32 is raised as at 56 for retaining the coin therein when the actuating arm is in its normal position.

Further means for adjustably positioning the actuating arm is provided by a set screw 57 connected with the arm and in engage ment with a projecting element or pin 7:8 when the arm is in its normal position. The position of the screw 57 with respect to the arm determines the position in which the arm is normally disposed. The actuating arm 32 provided with a projecting portion 32 adapted for engaging the pin 58 when the bucket member is raised for limiting the movement of the bucket member and thru'eby positively positioning the well 21 of the bucket member in aligiunent with the opening 22. The cover portion 96 of the casing 9 is-providcd with an opening 59 therein,

,ing portions whereby the neckof a container, such as that of an ink bottle61, may be positioned within the casing 9 when the ink bottle 61 is disposed in an inverted position.

The casing portion is provided with an annular recess 62 bordering on the opening 59 for receiving an annular sealing member "3, such as a rubber disc. The bottle 61 rests on the sealing disc 63 for providing an airtight connection between the bottle and the cover portion 91) of the casing. A tubular plug 64 having a passageway 65 therethrough may be disposed in the neck 60.and may be constructed of any suitable material, such as cork.

A clamping member 66 is fixedly connected with the base plate 3 by. any suitable means, such as bolts 67, and is provided with arcuate-shaped gripping portions 68. The gripping portions 68 extend partially around the bottle 61 for firmly holding the bottle in upright position. The clamping member 66 may be constructed of any suitable resilient material, such as spring steel.

0n referring to Figures 1 to 3,inclusive, it will be noted that a housing 69 is provided for enclosing the structure heretofore described, and that the housing is removably connected with the base plate 3. As shown in Figure 2, a locking strip 70 is positioned on the lower portion of the base plate 3 and connected therewith by any suitable means, such as welding, and is provided with formed end portions '72disposed in a spaced-apart position with respect to the base plate 3. In like manner, a locking strip 73 is positioned on the top portion of the base plate 3 and is disposed in spaced-apart relation with respect thereto by a spacing plate 74.

The locking strip 73, the spacing plate 74, and the base plate 3 may be connected by any suitable means, such as welding. It will be noted that the screws 1 for'connecting the base plate 3 to the supporting block extend through the locking strips 70 and 73, the locking strips also functioning as reinforcin; members. The locking strip 73 is provided with projecting end portions 76 and a medial and transversely extending flange portion 77.

The housing 69 is provided with project-- or lugs 78 which may be integral th rewith and are adapted for being positioned between the end portions 7 2 of the locking strip 70 and, the base plate 3. In like manner, the top end portion of thehousing is provided with flange portions 79 which maybe integral therewith and are adapted for being positioned between the projecting end portions 76 of the locking strip 73 and the base plate 3. The projecting portions 78 and the flange portions 79v in cooperation with the locking, strips 70 and 73 are the means for connecting the housing-69 with the .pressed by the base plate 3. The housing is supported by the flange portions 79 bearing on the spacing plate 74-.

A key-actuated lock 80 may be connected with the housing 69 by rivets 81 and is provided with a plunger 82 for engaging the flange portion 77 of the looking strip 73. The housing may be further provided with a key opening 83 therein for opcratively connecting a key with the lock. 80. The housing 69 has an opening 84 therein for providing access to the openings 22 and 23, and the slotted openings 35 in the casing 9 and the actuating lever 50. -The housing 69 may also be provided with an opening 85 therein. An ad vertising sign or mirror 86 may be positioned back of the opening 85 for being Visible therethrough. A plate member 87 may be connected with the housing 69 by any suitable means, such as screws 38, for connecting the sign or mirror 86 with the housing. v

The lower part of the housing 69 serves as a receptacle for receiving the coins dropped by the actuating arm.

I From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. hen the device is in operation, the bottle 61 contains a liquid such as ink. The ink flows through the passageway 65 in the tubular plug 64 and into the reservoir 13 and the well 14 of the casing 9. The depth of the ink in the reservoir and well. is determined by the position of the tubular plug 6 1 with respect to the neck 60 of the bottle 61. The bucket member 19 is partly immersed in the ink so that the ink contained in the well 14: of the casing 9 may flow into the well 21 of the bucket member 19. It will therefore be noted that the quantity of ink disposed in the bucket member 19 is determined by the posi-.

,tion of the tubular plug 64:.

When it is desired to refill a fountain pen with ink, the pen point may be first inserted through the opening 23 and the filler mechanism of the pen actuated for ejecting any of the old ink contained in the pen into the receptacle 25'. The pen is then withdrawn from the opening 23. A coin may then be inserted in the slotted opening 55 and is deposited in the slot 35 of the actuating arm 32, as shown in the dotted line position 89 in Figure 3. The actuating lever 50 may then be operator for moving the actu ating arm 32. The coin 89 engages the looking arm 38 and lifts the same for permitting the coin and the acuating arm 32 to pass thereunder.

As the actuating arm 32 moves toward the .position shown in Figure 7, the end portion 90 of the locking arm 38 will move over the surface 37 and the actuating arm completes its movement, at which time the coin 89 will be dropped on the bottom of the housing 69.

Vhen the actuating arm 32 is moved from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 7, the bucket member 19 will be moved through the medium of the lever arm 27 and the connecting arm 29, from its position shown in Figure 6 to the position shown in Figure 7, at which time the well opening 21 in the bucket member 19 will be positioned in alignment with the opening 22 in the cover por ion 96 of the casing 9. It will be noted that when the bucket member is in its filling position, the opening therein is above the surface of the ink in the well is and thereby permits only a definite quantity of the ink to be withdrawn; namely, the ink disposed in the well of the bucket member.

At this time the actuating lever 50 will have been depressed to its lowermost position. The operator then inserts the pen point through the opening 22 and into the well 21 of the bucket member 19, after which the filling mechanism of the pen should be actuated for inducing the ink from the well 21 into the pen. Vhen the pen is filled, it is removed from the opening 22, after which the actuating lever 50 is released for permitting the bucket member 19 and the mechanism associated therewith to be returned to their normal positions through the action of the spring 46.

If the actuating lever 50 is moved without first inserting a coin through the opening 55, the bucket member 19 will be raised only a very short distance because of the flange portion 34 of the actuating arm 32 being moved into engagement with the locking arm 38, thereby causing the actuating arm 32 to be held against further movement and preventing the well 21 in the bucket member 19 from being moved into alignment with the opening 22.

The bucket member 19 is disposed in the casing so that the lower side of the well 21 in the bucket 19 will be disposed in a clownwardly inclined position when the bucket member 19 is disposed in its normal position. The purpose of this is to permit any dirt which may have been dropped in the well 21 while a pen was being filled to move down the inclined side of the well when the bucket 19 is disposed in its normal position.

The projecting portion 2a of the bucket member 19 is provided with a recess 91 in the surface 24a, thereof. The recess 91 is positioned in alignment with the opening 22 when the bucket member 19 is disposed in its normal position and is adapted for receiving and holding any foreign matter, such as dust or dirt, which may drop through the opening 22. When the mechanism is actuated for moving the bucket member 19 to the position for filling a pen, the foreign matter deposited in the recess 91 is dumped into the compartment 16.

No ink can flow into the compartment 16 because of the wall portion 15. It will thus be seen that the ink will not come in contact with any metal and that the ink disposed within the well 21 of the bucket member 19 may be as free from foreign particles as possible. It will be noted that the arcuateshaped surface 24a of the projecting portion 24- is eccentrically positioned with respect to the pivotal axis of the bucket member 19 so that the surface 24a may be positively moved into engagement with the arcuate-shaped surface 9 of the casing cover portion 96. This construction seals the opening 22 and thereby further reduces to a minimum the loss of fluid due to evaporation. YVhen the bottle 61 has been emptied and it is desired to replace the same by a bottle filled with ink, the housing 69 is first disconnected from the base plate 3. The empty bottle may be removed by moving the resilient gripping portions 68 apart and may be replaced in the same manner.

If so desired, a counter or registering device may be operatively connected with any of the movable members of the mechanism for registering the number of times that the device is used.

I claim:

1. An ink dispensing device comprising a casing having an ink compartment therein, said casing being provided with a pen filling opening communicating with said compartment, a self filling bucket member movably mounted in said compartment and normally positioned out of communication with the opening, said bucket member being provided with an extending portion for normally closing said opening from the interior of said compartment, and means for moving said portion and bucket member for uncovering said opening and establishing communication of the interior thereof with said opening.

2. An ink dispensing device comprising a casing having an ink compartment therein, said casing being provided with a pen filling opening communicating with said compartment, a self filling bucket member movably mounted in said compartment and normally positioned whereby the interior of the bucket member is out of communication with the opening, said bucket member being provided with an extending portion for normally closing said opening from the interior, said extending portion being provided with a peripheral recess normally in communication with the opening, and means for moving the bucket member and closing portion for uncovering said opening and effecting the dumping of the contents of said recess and moving the interior of said bucket into communication with the opening.

3. In an ink dispensing device, a supporting base, a casing carried by the supporting base and adapted for containing a liquid,

said casing being provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening therein, a bucket member movably mounted in the casing and normally positioned whereby the interior of the bucket member may be out of communication with the outlet opening means for moving the bucket member for moving the interior thereof into communication with the outlet opening and out of communication with the liquid in the casing, means for supplying a liquid to the interior of the casing, said means comprising a container disposed in inverted position and provided with a neck portion extending through the inlet opening, and a housing disposed over the casing and the container and removably connected with the supporting base.

4C. In an ink dispensing device, a supporting base, a casing carried by the supporting base and adapted for containing a liquid, said casing being provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening therein, a bucket member movably mounted in the casing and normally positioned whereby the interior of the bucket member may be out of communication with the outlet opening, means for moving the bucket member for moving the interior thereof into communication with the outlet opening and out of communication with the liquid in the casing, means for supplying a liquid to the interior of the casing, sa1d means comprising a container disposed in inverted position and provided with a neck portion extending through the inlet opening, means connected with the supporting base for holding said container in position, and a housing disposed over the casing and the container and removably connected with the supporting base.

5. An ink dispensing device comprising a casing having an ink compartment therein, a pen filling opening in said casing communicating with said compartment, a tiltably mounted bucket in said opmpartment, a spring for normally holding said bucket in tilted position to enable ink to fiow into the same, means carried by said bucket for closing said filling opening when said bucket is in filling position, and manually operable means for simultaneously moving said cover means to inoperative position and actuating said bucket to upright position in registration with said openin 6. An ink dispensing device comprising a casing having an ink compartment therein, said casing having a pen filling opening therein communicating with said compartment, a tiltable open end bucket in said compartment adjacent said opening, means for retaining said bucket normally in tilted position within the ink in said compartment, a member carried by said bucket for closing said opening when said bucket is in tilted position, and means adjacent said opening adapted to be operated by the hand holding a pen for uncovering said opening and tilting said bucket to position wherein the open end thereof is in registration with said fillmg openin GUY RAYMOND BESS. 

